Guided Peak District day - Adv bikes

[Couchy]

Thoughts of a small business on the side consisting of guided tours in the peaks on and off road for adventure bikes. There’s people doing it but like them I’ve got a great knowledge of lanes and routes and tbh it’s little different to what I organise for the groups of mates.

Meeting at a cafe in the middle and spending 70 miles/5 hours riding round the peaks on lanes chosen for adv bikes.
From 1 bike to 4 bike groups. The existing companies charge around £150-£200 a day split between the group.

What’s peoples thoughts ? Once we’re free of lockdown anyone with an adv bike want to be a guinea pig for a day ?

[weeksy]

TBH i think it's an absolutely brilliant idea.

I'd happily pay for a guide for the day, assuming they know their stuff and routes etc.

I think the pricing seems about right, you could even do half days as it may be a bit much for some.

[Couchy]

A half day wouldn’t get you much tbh maybe it’s just a day out with no defined time as such just an idea of how long it should take depending on riders. We’d meet at 9am, stop for lunch and finish when we do sort of thing.

[weeksy]

Sort out a deal with a local B&B on rates etc too, close to ride start point, breakfast etc.

[crust]

Paging Tricky to the thread, please.

A potential Jolly Boys day out, if we can negotiate a suitable discount

[Couchy]

Lol I’ll happiy do one for us lot on enduro bikes any time

[Yorick]

I have 2 pals do it here. Both charge €160 for 3 hours. That includes bike, petrol , riding gear and damage.

I could do it cheaper but they are pals and need the dosh.

I do trips for close mates though.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

It might be worth getting an ACU off road instructors license, not that I think you need one, it just looks good on the advertising and shows you know what you're doing, you'd also have to be very careful about the legal status of the lanes you're using.

I'm a tight arse and wouldn't pay £150 for someone to show me round what I can research for myself (and I enjoy the map reading and research) but if there's a market for it go for it, the setup outlay is pretty low, so what have you got to lose?

What about guided EMTB rides - though cyclists are far tighter than motorcyclists.

[Horse]

Didn't KTM used to have something similar, based Oxford way?

[Tricky]

A decent local guide is well worth it IMO
Dunno about your neck of the woods, but have done a fair amount in mid-wales, and although I've been going for at least 10 years or so on and off, and really should know my way around there by now, whenever I go (is always with a couple of good mates ), we always use Colin, a local and handy ex-expert level Enduro rider there as our guide- he's lived in the area for most of his life, is out riding most days so knows the areas better than any of us ever could.
We get to places we've never even realized were there from the maps, and as he's out there all year round, every week of the year, he has real-time knowledge of it all, so we don't get caught out with any change in a lanes status, closures or impassible routes etc
We give him £40 ish each a day, so he gets approx £120-£150 , and we buy him lunch - excellent value IMO

[Couchy]

Soon as we’re all free again I’ll do a couple of trial runs for adv bikes and see how it goes. The days I already organise for mates always go down well and I do enjoy planning and researching the routes. It’s never gonna be about making money but def worth a try

[Dave@ERT]

As you say, definitely worth a go as you’d have no outlay and would enjoy the experience. I’ve got a mate that does it near me, in Shropshire, but he’s got a small fleet of ‘hire bikes’ that he takes people out on. He tried running trips for larger adventure bikes but had almost no one book...it would appear that many ‘adventure’ bike riders aren’t...very adventurous !! Like yourself, I regularly take groups out, but only friends on their own bikes.

[Couchy]

As you say, definitely worth a go as you’d have no outlay and would enjoy the experience. I’ve got a mate that does it near me, in Shropshire, but he’s got a small fleet of ‘hire bikes’ that he takes people out on. He tried running trips for larger adventure bikes but had almost no one book...it would appear that many ‘adventure’ bike riders aren’t...very adventurous !! Like yourself, I regularly take groups out, but only friends on their own bikes.

Hire bikes is a possibility, could you ask your mate who he uses for insurance and how much it costs him ?

[Cousin Jack]

I like the idea, but I am a bit far from the Peak District. I would be more tempted if it was a tarmac-only bimble, because I don't have an adventure bike.

Pricewise it sounds about right.

[Dave@ERT]

No probs, I’ll find out what I can and pm you

[Noggin]

I'd love to try something like this but wouldn't have a bike of my own suitable. Would prefer to do it with people I know too!

(Have considered a trip to a Spanish Island to have a go at off road bikes!! LOL)

[MingtheMerciless]

Ohhh taking a motorbike down (or up) Jacobs Ladder, now there's a naughty thought.

[Couchy]

Ohhh taking a motorbike down (or up) Jacobs Ladder, now there's a naughty thought.

And a thought is all it can be these days

[Dave@ERT]

PM sent

[Beancounter]

...it would appear that many ‘adventure’ bike riders aren’t...very adventurous !! Like yourself, I regularly take groups out, but only friends on their own bikes.

I've got an old Aprilia Caponord that was for commuting. Now that I'm mainly WFH I was idly wondering about using it for some gentle off roading but as you say there doesn't seem to be wider appeal. I've done a few organised of road days , one with a bunch of unknowns and the other two days with mates. The day with unknowns was good fun and good value but the days with mates always better.